Critics Can't Agree On Year's Best

Providing the latest evidence that there is little concurrence among critics this year over which film ranks as the year's best, the Boston Society of Film Critics on Sunday named Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous best picture, while the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. gave its top award to Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The aesthetic chasm between the two critics' groups was as wide as the physical distance that separates them. The Boston group selected Crowe as best director, Ellen Burstyn as best actress (Requiem for a Dream), Collin Farrell as best actor (Tigerland), Frances McDormand as best supporting actress (Almost Famous, Wonder Boys), Fred Willard as best supporting actor (Best in Show), and Steve Kloves for best screenplay (Wonder Boys). The Los Angeles group selected Steven Soderbergh as best director (Erin Brockovich, Traffic), Michael Douglas as best actor (Wonder Boys), Julia Roberts as best actress (Erin Brockovich) and Willem Dafoe as best supporting actor (Shadow of the Vampire). The Los Angeles group agreed with its Boston counterpart in only one category, best supporting actress, also honoring McDormand for her performances in both Almost Famous and Wonder Boys. Kenneth Lonergan won the L.A. group's best screenplay award for You Can Count On Me.